UConn Weights Program

[kansashusky]

I realize that we have a guard heavy team, but too often while watching college basketball I cannot help but notice that we pale in comparison to other teams strength wise. Watching Arizona last night, they looked like grown men, even though they are made up of a majority of FR/SO. Does anyone know who does the weights program at UConn? I wish with would've kept Andrea Hudy (Now at KU). I have to think this has some affect on rebounding.

 

[upstater]

I realize that we have a guard heavy team, but too often while watching college basketball I cannot help but notice that we pale in comparison to other teams strength wise. Watching Arizona last night, they looked like grown men, even though they are made up of a majority of FR/SO. Does anyone know who does the weights program at UConn? I wish with would've kept Andrea Hudy (Now at KU). I have to think this has some affect on rebounding.

The grown men on Arizona are freshman and Sophomores. Gordon is a frosh, and Tarcewski is a rather thin but good Sophomore. Ashley is a Soph too.

 

[kansashusky]

The grown men on Arizona are freshman and Sophomores. Gordon is a frosh, and Tarcewski is a rather thin but good Sophomore. Ashley is a Soph too.

That is what I am saying. Even though they are young they still are built and have size. Kaleb is massive.

 

[imno1]

yeah wait to we meet up with Shaq Goodwin

 

[upstater]

That is what I am saying. Even though they are young they still are built and have size. Kaleb is massive.

I know but your last question made it seem as though Arizona had somehow developed them.

 

[Penfield]

Bill Walton did talk last night about how awesome the Arizona Strength and Conditioning coach was. Also true he shouldn't get credit for the fact that Gordon came in developed.

 

[Marat]

yeah wait to we meet up with Shaq Goodwin

Yeah, but nobody in college basketball is as built as Patrick Young of Florida, who we've already faced.

 

[Sportsman5]

genetics matter a lot

 

[sledog]

Can't do much with the genetics, although possibly soon that may change. So who does do the wts at UConn?

 

[huskiesNhoos]

Opening up a can of worms here, but its relevant...

AO is a good example. Missouri put up before and after pics of him going through their program, and he came out leaner and much more muscular. That was after ony a couple months, too.

 

[jibsey]

A weight program can only do so much, when you recruit skinny players you start behind the 8 ball. We need to recruit some muscle more of Lubin's type and then work them through the weight program.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

You can have the greatest weight training program in the entire universe and Amida Brimah and DeAndre Daniels will still be skinny.

 

[imno1]

You can have the greatest weight training program in the entire universe and Amida Brimah and DeAndre Daniels will still be skinny.

I have to disagree to an extent. Genetics (and drugs) are a huge factor. Not everyone can be Arnold but my take is if DD made a bigger commitment to gaining strength he'd be stronger, more explosive and probably more muscular.

 

[kansashusky]

I have to disagree to an extent. Genetics (and drugs) are a huge factor. Not everyone can be Arnold but my take is if DD made a bigger commitment to gaining strength he'd be stronger, more explosive and probably more muscular.

You don't know that. There are plenty of skinny players that build up muscle in college.

I know you are going to ask for examples so here are a couple.

Thomas Robinson
Marcus Paige
Nnanna Egwu

Obviously there are several others.

 

[imno1]

You don't know that. There are plenty of skinny players that build up muscle in college.

I know you are going to ask for examples so here are a couple.

Thomas Robinson
Marcus Paige
Nnanna Egwu

Obviously there are several others.

Yes that's my point. It is possible

 

[Gurleyman]

We used to be pretty good in this regard. Taliek, Ben, Emeka, Denham were all ripped. Ben went third in the NBA Draft because he was a physical specimen in the combines. Don't know if we can take credit for Adrien - he came to us a wall of muscle, but Thabeet and Sticks got stronger. Gavin became much more agile.

I don't think AO is necessarily a good example because who knows what the hell he did between the Iowa State loss and showing up in Missouri when he might not have been around our weight room much on the way out. You get lazy and you lose definition pretty quick. Hell - also possible that he had championship hangover and became lazy as soon as we beat Butler. Would explain a lot.

 

[kansashusky]

I have to disagree to an extent. Genetics (and drugs) are a huge factor. Not everyone can be Arnold but my take is if DD made a bigger commitment to gaining strength he'd be stronger, more explosive and probably more muscular.

Completely agree. It takes serious work that I don't think our players commit too.

 

[Penfield]

Is this a situation where the players can't be required to participate because it would eat into the allowed practice time?

 

[imno1]

Is this a situation where the players can't be required to participate because it would eat into the allowed practice time?

I believe they all follow a strength and conditioning program especially offseason. But I question either the intensity or program design. Every player must get their own customized program based on goals they are trying to attain.

 

[jibsey]

We used to be pretty good in this regard. Taliek, Ben, Emeka, Denham were all ripped. Ben went third in the NBA Draft because he was a physical specimen in the combines. Don't know if we can take credit for Adrien - he came to us a wall of muscle, but Thabeet and Sticks got stronger. Gavin became much more agile.

I don't think AO is necessarily a good example because who knows what the hell he did between the Iowa State loss and showing up in Missouri when he might not have been around our weight room much on the way out. You get lazy and you lose definition pretty quick. Hell - also possible that he had championship hangover and became lazy as soon as we beat Butler. Would explain a lot.

All of those players you mentioned were not the type before they came here to be blown down by a stiff breeze, like DD, Brimah and to some degree Facey. These are guys starting out 30 pounds underweight.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Completely agree. It takes serious work that I don't think our players commit too.

You do realize that our players spend the majority of the year on campus and go through a supervised weight training program, right? It's not some willy nilly thing where Ollie tells the players to go hit the weights on their own and the lazy ones go home instead.

There are certain body types that are just never going to add significant muscle mass. Unfortunately we have a lot more guys with the Kevin Durant body type than the Lebron James body type. Somebody mentioned Alex Oriakhi - he was built like a man when he was 17. Amida Brimah's built like a high school soccer player.

 

[imno1]

Of course compliance might be mandatory now but I don't think Rip every touched a weight. I think he believed it would make him stiff.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Thomas Robinson
Marcus Paige
Nnanna Egwu

Marcus Paige is 6-1 and 170 pounds and looks basically like he did in high school. Ryan Boatright has changed his body more than he has. What a truly bizarre example, unless there's another Marcus Paige you're talking about. Also, Thomas Robinson was built nothing like DeAndre Daniels in high school. I have no idea who Nnanna Egwu is.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

As evidenced by the 30 pack hanging above my belt line, I don't know (Bo) diddly about working out. But, I think there's a difference between mass and strength. Obviously there can be a direct relationship, but I think players can get strong through their core without adding mass. Having a space eater, as we hope for Lubin, is nice, but I want a player than can absorb contact around the rim and be able to physically defend his position without being thrown around like a rag doll.

 

[ZenConn]

Opening up a can of worms here, but its relevant...

AO is a good example. Missouri put up before and after pics of him going through their program, and he came out leaner and much more muscular. That was after ony a couple months, too.

It's also quite possible that AO had one foot out the door when he took that pic. Maybe 3-4 months w/o working out?